COLLEGE HOLDS PUBLIC HEARINGS ON BUDGETS

 

Public hearings were held Tuesday afternoon on budgets for Iowa Lakes Community College.  The Board of Trustees held the first public hearing on the 2006 Fiscal Year Budget published for the college.  While the tax asking nudged up, it’s still lower than the increase voters of the region endorsed in a 6-cent equipment levy in September of 2004.   This year’s tax rate is .77684 per $1,000 assessed valuation.  The Trustees approved the published budget.

 

The second public hearing had to do with an amendment of the current 2005 Fiscal Year Budget.  This does not ask for any additional monies.  What it does is accurately reflects the expenditures in the FY05 general fund budget, in accordance with the Iowa Code.  At the time the original budget was published, additional funds from outside grants as well as expenditures for additional New Jobs Training Funds and the new wind turbine had not been anticipated.  Approval by the Board of Trustees allowed the threshold on the budget to be expanded.

 

The Journalism and Photography Program was featured in the Iowa Lakes report.  Students met with the Trustees and shared why they became involved in the Journalism and Photography Program. Recently, several classes were added:  Advanced News Writing, Digital Photography, News and Forensic Photography and Introduction to Portrait Photography.  There are currently 16 students in the two-year program that prepares students for the option of transferring to a four-year college or seeking immediate employment.  Currently, many graduates gain immediate employment due to the number of jobs available.

 

Later in the meeting, the Trustees learned of new programs planned at the college.  The Trustees heard about five programs – Biomass Energy Processing (initially Ethanol production); Sustainable Energy; Pharmacy Technician; Web Page Programming; and Radiology– which will go before the State Board of Education for approval.  (NOTE:  See separate release.)

 

Also during the meeting, approval was received for an ACE application.  The college wants to use ACE infrastructure funds for costs associated with the Biomass Energy Processing Program and the Construction Technology Program.    

 

The next meeting of the Iowa Lakes Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, in Estherville.